Exotic Weekend Break

Paris is romantic. Barcelona’s hot. And Rome is well, Rome. But the number one short-haul destination for exotic weekends and awe-inspiring adventures is Morocco.

The likes of Delacroix, Humphrey Bogart and Jimi Hendrix can’t be wrong. They are just a few of the international trend-setters that have flocked to the land of Morocco throughout the years.

Maybe it’s the African pace of life; maybe it’s the French café culture; or perhaps it’s the combination of mystical Arabic architecture and traditional Berber culture. But there’s definitely something about Morocco.

The delights of Marrakesh are almost impossible to describe. Fire eaters and snake charmers swarm the Djemaa El Fna (the main square) and the smells and sounds are truly intoxicating. For a first foray into Morocco, you couldn’t ask for a more dazzling experience.

There are mosques and palaces aplenty, beautiful gardens, spice souks, jewellery souks, every kind of souk, narrow passageways, intriguing museums, shisha dens – you name it. Some hot, sweet mint tea is mandatory (in fact you’ll be hard pushed to avoid it in the Medina), as is a Hammam to invigorate your every pore.

For the insiders’ track, try our hidden Marrakesh tour to see a side of the city you would otherwise never know.

For all you adrenaline junkies, we suggest heading to the Atlantic coast. The sweeping golden sands may not be ideal for sunbathing (Essaouira’s not named the windy city for nothing) but in terms of wind and kite surfing, it’s outstanding.

The exposed beach break has consistent surf and can work at any time of year, and if the east wind isn’t blowing, there’s always room for an extra player in a beach footie game or a camel mooching around ready for a ride through the dunes.

Your beach body letting you down? Then you might do better in the Atlas Mountains. Just an hour from Marrakesh you’ll find yourself in the foothills of the High Atlas. Spend several days trekking along winding mountain paths fringed by lime groves and argan trees (with the odd goat climbing it) in the footsteps of centuries of nomadic Berber tribes.